Photo TR: First time Walt Disney World/ Holiday World

[drummermattk]

Hi Guys! I recently got back from a week's worth of traveling from Columbus, Ohio, to Orlando, back to Columbus, to Santa Claus, Indiana, and Back to Xenia, Ohio.

 

The way ill be doing this report is by posting one day at a time, starting with the Disney trip. I will say i was really impressed by the quality of the food we got from our food vouchers, and the hospitality by everyone at Disney parks and Resorts. The only thing that confused me was the way they dispatch rides. Now I am a ride operator, and at Kings Island, we have to physically push down and pull up on the restraints, but at Disney? Nope the associates just walk by and ask you to push up and down on your restraints. I know the rides are designed to provide smooth fast operations, but If something was to happen like a restraint come flying up midway through the ride, who's gonna get the blame? Throughout the Disney trip and the Holiday World trip I will say this, I focused on mainly riding nothing BUT coasters, but there was some excusing some rides.

 

My thoughts on the coasters from Day 1 (I only rode three):

 

- Rockin' Roller Coaster feat. Aerosmith : Boy oh boy this was one i was waiting for. Ever since I started listening to Aerosmith, and saw that this ride was actually a thing I wanted to go on it. AND it blew my expectations of a Vekoma launched coaster out of the water! I rode this the first time in the middle of the train and I didn't find it rough at all! With all the black lighting, Aerosmith music blasting, and the neon signs all lit made this better than Flight of Fear and um...............Space Mountain (Just kidding).

 

-Expedition Everest: Adventure Express's younger more thilling brother. This ride kicked @$$. Rode in the back (No one told me they had a single rider line so i waited 75 minutes.....) anyways this and Rockin Roller Coaster was the most thrilling at the park. The fact that this had switch-tracks, pitch black, yetis that looked like they could grab you and a cool themed qeuve line, this was a good addition to the Animal Kingdom.

 

-primeval whirl - Not my first wild spinning mouse, but my first one with a compact layout like this. This was fun, the sharp turns, the spinning, the theming, everything was good about this ride.

 

 

Well ill stop talkin and let the pictures show how the day went. (Side Note, Im not that good at getting pictures at good angles sometimes)

Our Wonderful resort! Pop Century! Loved all the theming to different eras throughout the resort.

I honestly dont know the name of this animal..........but Looks at that animal!

Well this is a bird.......................

It looks like gazelles (I think) are trying to keep cool! I know I was!

Still trying to keep cool. The next enclosure was Tigers, but they where hiding so no pics of them I wanted to see sharekhan! (get it?......Disney?..........Jungle Book?........No?..........we'll your no fun!)

The rapids ride........................yeah not for me

Ill just love standing on DRY ground and not becoming all wet and sticky from the Florida humidity

One last pic i suppose, may Triton have mercy on your soul........just kidding

Is that the Tree of Life i see?

Ah, something to sit down and enjoy, Rafiki's jungle train, where you'll see Animals, in enclosures because they have the "day off"

SNAKE!!!!

So the first park I travel to is?..........................Hollywood Studios! First thing i do? Ride the Rockin' Roller Coaster

Green Tree Boa.....

hm.......i honestly need a better memory to remember names of animals

Gorilla's that are safe with well built barriers

He's hiding his food

After wandering around for a good 2 hours, I finally found my way to the next thing on my check list. Any hints?.............

Station area for Rockin' Roller Coaster

Launch section. I was shocked to see that while on the ride, the car went back a little bit before launch just like Intamin launch coasters do.

After eating lunch at Hollywood Studios and since we had unlimited Hoppers, I decided to travel to Animal Kingdom and ride Primervial Whirl since I had a fast pass+ for it. this one pictured is the fastpass side of the ride.

I was shocked when i saw two wild mouse's right next to each other. Each with the same layout but facing two different ways. One was for the standby line, the other for fastpass+, the one pictured is the standby line

Animal time! Monkeys! (I always thought disney only robotic animals, I was clearly proven' wrong)

If you look closely you'll see a Crocodile!

On the Maharajah Jungle Trek, the first enclosure before entering the Bat "cave" is being prepped to house a new species of animals!

Maybe this will help you..................

OHHHHHH did you guess Expedition Everest!? Well you'r correct! This mine train was extremely good

Well after dying of heat and boredom I decided to go to Magic Kingdom, and I really really like this view!

he only ride I rode in Magic Kingdom on day 1, after waiting in line for 30 minutes for it to re-open I will say this log flume barely gets you wet......

Well i had to meet up with my group at Hollywood Studios for the Fantasmic show. The one ride I did not ride. Tower of terror.............. I dont do drop rides.

The Fantasmic Stage!

The lion king little portion of the show, later on the show featured Jafar the snake from Aladin and The Dragon from Sleeping Beauty..........................which caught the water on FIRE! (yes it got on fire) that dragon was huge though!

I found this whole show intersting, most of the things from the show i have are videos, so very little pics, but they had a mist coming down on each side of the stage and had a projector showing clips and such. After this we stayed and watched the Star Wars fireworks which were amazing but nothing topped the Fantasmic show. We then headed back to the resort for day number 2, which will be coming here soon.

Edited June 4, 2016 by drummermattk

[gardyloo!]

I guess disney's just conscious about how much impact crushing someone's thighs has on the operations. Seeing how disney world gets over 30 million visitors annually, they just need to keep the capacity on their rides as high as possible. Moreover I woudn't consider any ride at disney extreme, so a visual check or quick pull on the restraint should do the trick.

Shame you didn't ride ToT! It's probably one of the greatest ride disney's ever created and theming alone is worth it.

 

Anyway you could never see enough photos of disneyworld so keep it up .

[gardyloo!]

Double post

[drummermattk]

Day 2 : Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral National Seashore

 

Okay so maybe this isn't roller coaster related, but this was included in the trip. The next morning we gathered for breakfast,and boarded the busses to Kennedy Space Center and Canaveral National Seashore.

 

Kennedy Space Center: Home of about every rocket NASA has sent into space. As the pictures show, the most recent addition is Alantis! The center does have an addition coming in 2016:

Heroes and legends:

-Places where you can "float in the vastness Of Space"

-The U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame

-Places where you can experience the thrills and dangers of America's Earliest Missions

-A 3D omni-directional Theater

-Stories of NASA Space Heroes

 

There was also a "Launch pad simulator" that i went through and basically your in a pod or "car" with about 20 other people and it simulates a rocket being launched into outer space, and you "feel" the g's the astronauts do.

 

Canaveral National Seashore:

Sadly I do not have any pictures of this but I will say this, this beach was beautiful! the waves were questionable as my sunglasses and another kids glasses where takin off our head, but it was fun! If your ever visiting Orlando, i recommend stopping by this National Park. Be sure to bring sun screen or you'll end up burnt like i was! (Not fun when riding coasters)

Welcome to Kennedy Space Center

Rocket! (no not the def leppard song)

a nice small little fountain that's synced to the music playing in the park.

Coming fall 2016

While waiting to board the bus, we spotted a raccoon sleeping in a tree above us

NASA

After viewing a short film on Atlantis, the Front of the theater opened up and we where aloud to go look at and around ATLANTIS. This is the view when your walking into the exhibit.

Side view for those Space shuttle fans out there

closer? (you know who you are)

back view?

After going through the exhibit you can go down the stairs.............................or a slide

The original asssssssssssssssssssssstrovan (thanks to my chem teacher for that joke about his big astrovan)

ROCKETS!

[drummermattk]

Day Three!

 

The whole group was led to Epcot and we went through the Disney YES (Youth Educational Series) program which got us on Test Track, Mission Space and Spaceship Earth. Originally we were supposed to enter Test Track first, but with the ride being down for a bit we traveled over to Mission Space, where we were not aloud to do the most intense one.............but none the less it was an interesting ride! We then got off Mission Space (and had a few Math lessons) and we proceeded to Test Track. Needless to say, we got stuck on the ride for about 5 minutes . We then went to Spaceship Earth and ended the "class" with talking about how Technology has changed. After that we were given our meal vouchers and we were let go to go to whatever park we wanted to.

 

MAGIC KINGDOM here i come! So i first ate at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe. Boy was that good! I stayed in Frontierland (Isn't that a game company that helped with RCT3?......I'll shut up now) and went to ride "Big" Thunder Mountain, proceeded to Seven Dwarfs, Barnstormer (Yes i rode the kids coaster), and Space Mountain, and then went back to Epcot for some dinner at the Electric Umbrella and meet with our group for "Illuminations of Earth" which is a PHENOMENAL show!

 

My thoughts on the coasters:

 

-Big Thunder Mountain: The theming was great! (Isn't everything at Disney though?). Honestly felt like this is your average mine train that you would see at a lot of parks. The cars on the train took me by surprise though! No seat dividers, and a buzz bar (I believe thats what its called)! Found it just a little jerky but not rough.

 

-Space Mountain: EXTREMELY better than the Flight of Fear clones at KI and KD! All the lights, and the placements of them were just intense! It's a long walk to the station though. Found this a tad bit jerky and rough but I can understand since its old. Still a great ride!

 

-Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Another winner at the park! The queue line is AMAZING! Although I know the cars are supposed to swing, they didn't swing that much for me. But still an amazing ride, no roughness, no jerkiness, and I'm still singing "High Ho!"

 

-Barnstormer: Nothing really to say about this because it's like your average Roller skater, good ride to start kids on.

I wonder where i could be...................

To the sprinklers and beyond!!!!!

Ah Donald, looks like you've aged a little

Goodbye Epcot, I'll be back

Seven Dwarfs..............The ride that broke down while i was in line...and evacuated the line.........

Still no Train..........or Dwarfs singing......

Great ride!

Goodbye BTM

Japan, good Sushi to buy there! I recommend it! It's not that expensive either!

 

 

Day four will be coming later on today!

Is somthing a bewin' at Magic Kingdom?

Where's the coaster! I can't see it.

Oh! There it is!

Riding the train........

I love how Disney makes almost everything seem realistic.

[TBpony414]

Nice TR so far! You sure went back and forth a lot between the parks. Why did you like Illuminations at Epcot so much? Every time I've seen it I feel like it's just meh, ok. It's like that show The Big Bang Theory in that I want to like it because everyone else loves it, but I just don't haha. Convince me!

[drummermattk]

Well I just realized i never posted the rest of the pictures and my Holiday World report..............oops

 

 

Day 4:

We basically had a day to do whatever we wanted at the disney parks or resort. With all 7 coasters ridden (and a friend who lost his glasses in the ocean) we traveled around Epcot for a bit (sadly no pictures, this was when the flower festival was going on though!) and I made my way around Animal Kingdom doing some shopping,Made one last trip to Hollywood Studios and got another ride on Rockin' Roller Coaster (this time with the single rider line!), and made my way to Magic Kingdom (which ended our night with us only seeing the castle display with all the animations, fireworks were cancelled but they kept saying postponed on the park speakers).

 

 

Day 5:

Spent the morning Canoeing at Wekiwa Springs and was able to swim. After all heading back to the resort, we had free time to go swim, nap, shop, whatever until we had to meet up (and dressed nicely) for Disney Springs. After eating a nice dinner (which consisted of basically fries, Mac 'n' Cheese, and Hamburger Sliders) we where aloud to walk around and shop at Disney Springs. A lot of pictures were takin about the construction that is going on. As I was told, a lot of things have changed since the name was changed from Downtown Disney to Disney Springs. We were supposed to see Cirque De Soleil La Nouba, but unfortunately during the 6 o'clock performance a popcorn machine caught fire (a small fire though) but the building was evacuated. THEN the sprinklers went off and they cancelled the performances for the rest of the night. In return, we were given free passes to enter Disneyquest. Even if your an adult, this is like video game heaven as it has games like DigDug, Pacman, Galaga, Super PacMan and newer style games from Disney's Wreck It Ralph, Sports Games(which the new high score of 113 on one basketball game was set by yours truly). We then headed back to the resort, and the next morning flew home.

 

Sadly, pictures of Disney Springs did not come out as planned. After the whole day of wondering Wekiwa Springs and Disney Springs, the next day was the last. The whole group boarded the plane and sadly returned to Ohio. But alas for some people they would be sleeping the next couple of days. For me? oh no no no. The next day was another first. HOLIDAY WORLD!

 

*FAST FORWARDS*

 

So after driving four hours to Santa Claus, Indiana, we arrived at the park. As we got there at park open, mom and I where shocked to see no rides running when we got there at 10:30 Ohio time..................................yeah we kinda forgot that Indiana was an hour behind us but anyways we waited for the park to open "and listened to Christmas Music......". It started as a overcast day with rain about halfway through our visit (in which we ate at Plymouth Rock Cafe and oh my this is a great place to eat). Our first ride (as the three wooden coasters weren't even started with their safety checks)was the Turkey Whirl. This is like the first ride ever that has ever got me dizzy. Our first coaster (with no woodies testing until after we got up to the plaza) was the recently new Thunderbird. Front row. Left side. My thoughts will be down below We then made our way back down to Voyage, but it was still closed and we walked to the other two coasters, who were still closed to, and it started to rain. So off to Plymouth Rock Cafe for some good ol' Thanksgiving food After the rain cleared we finally got a ride on All three wooden coasters, each with a ride in the front, and the back. Once i had my fill off wood we rode thunderbird two more times and i proceeded to try out the waterslides as the sun was beginning to come out. My thoughts will still be down below:

 

-Thunderbird: HOLY poop. why doesn't B&M make more launched coasters (well with their own launches....) I loved this ride and its easily in my top ten overall. All the foot-choppers with the supports around the two turn arounds really got me though. Although our first ride wait was "long" since they only had one train operation we made do with it since the park wasn't packed.

 

-Voyage: EASILY my number wooden coaster, and this ride was the one i was waiting the most for. I can now see why this park has the top 5 wooden coasters in the world. LOVED the 90 degree banked turns (and i was the only one yelling 90 DEGREES), and airtime after airtime after airtime.

 

-Legend: The re-tracked sections where really smooth and i loved the tunnels, and especially the wolf howling at us. Although they were one train operation to the line was under 10 minutes, and easily got a ride in the front. Great ride but one side note: Holiday World, bank some turns please "

 

-Raven: The oldest coaster at the park and we could tell, Almost reminded me of a mini version of The Beast. Great ride!

 

WATER COASTER TIME:

 

-Mammoth: NEVER, and i mean NEVER did i ever expect to get air on a water coaster. This is by far the best Water coaster (even though i've only rode three) i've ever rode. Also loved how they had the single rider lines for Mammoth and Wildebeest.

 

-Wildebeest: The same thing can be said down here about Wildebeest as I said for Mammoth, HOLY AIRTIME. Loved these rides. My home park should start taking notes on a new waterpark expansion (cough cough Kings Island cough cough).

 

 

Some pictures didn't turn out that well..........I need to stop using my phone for pictures...... but i would like to say R.I.P. To what was once the world's tallest water ride, im surprised they haven't really cleared the land it used..............AND they still have the boats in the station..... could we see a comeback? lol